6 Nations 2011 Preview - 'Injured' has the best players to select from

Note Ireland in the lead!Picture from: http://bit.ly/hJJ15Z

It all gets going this weekend, but before the 6 Nations starts, a little look ahead to see what form the teams are in.


England

Injuries include Moody, Ashton, dumb ban for Armitage, Lawes and Croft Add to that worries over Fourie, Tindall, and England have a bit of head scratching to do ahead of their opening match with Wales. They ‘ve been the gentle giants of world rugby for far too long, but third in the Six Nations last yearwas followed by back to back wins over Australia home and away. The Springboks punctured a bit of their bubble in the last of the autumn internationals, but England look like a force to be reckoned with in the 6 Nations and the World Cup to follow. Let’s hope their momentum isn’t derailed by the injuries (except against Ireland of course), which will make for a competitive 6 Nations and World Cup. Prediction 2nd or 3rd

France

France are so ridiculously overstuffed with talent that even allowing for the odd injury, they should still retain their 6 Nations title with ease. Most of their T14 teams seem to operate with the budget of a small European country (there’s a thought – we could get Stade Francaise to buy Ireland!) and there’s fierce inter club rivalry second to none in the world, breeding healthy competition and world beating players. Having said that, they had a nightmare summer tour last year, and were absolutely humiliated by Australia in the Autumn, 59-16. That’s the French for you though, swinging from the sublime to the ridiculous with only a gallic shrug as explanation. Prediction 1st

Ireland

Ireland have an injury list as long as your arm at the moment, Kearney, Heaslip, Bowe, Trimble, Ferris, Horgan – if you’re going to the matches, bring your boots! Leinster have been the stand out province in Ireland this season, and should form the bulk of the Ireland team, including man of the moment Sean O’Brien. You’d feel that they are a few players short of mounting a serious challenge for the title this year. They do have the big guns England and France at home and if they can pick up a few early wins, and get a few players back from injury, you just never know… Prediction : 2nd or 3rd

Italy

Whatever Italy are paying former Springbok coach Nick Mallet they don’t seem to have really got their money back yet. Three years in to his tenure, Scotland are still the only scalp they manage to claim from time to time in the 6 Nations. Powerful pack and..that’s about it really. Entry into the Magners League will help them in the long run, but for this year I expect them to prop up the table again.

Scotland

This could just be Scotland’s year, very few injuries, on a high after ambushing the Springboks at Murrayfield in November - this could be their year to make a big come back in the 6 Nations. Scottish teams are making an irritating habit of pooping Ireland’s party, no more so than when they beat Ireland in the 6 Nations last year. Fair play to them for sticking to their nuggety strengths. This year Scotland will entertain Ireland at home in what promises to be a spicy affair. I’m going to be definitive and say they’ll finish between 3rd and 5th.

Wales


Wales have Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Bishop, Shanklin, Henson out with injury. I always expect Wales to do better than they do, they have loads of talented players and have an open entertaining style of play. Add to that passionate, vocal fans and you should have the recipe for success. It hasn’t quite come together in the last few years, and while you feel they should be challenging for the top table, instead we see them being grateful in the end for a draw against Fiji. But with not much weight of expectations on their shoulders this year, we might just see them cut loose and stun everyone. Prediction : between 2nd and 4th.

Let me know what you think.

BRING IT ON!